Description

The Aiguille de Midi is an imposing peak towering over the Chamonix valley, it's fame (and accessibility) has been greatly augmented by the construction of the Aiguille de Midi telepherique which transports hundreds of climbers, skiers, hikers, and tourists every day to the top of this mountain. This makes the mountain infinitely more accessible and makes it possible to do many climbs and routes on Mont Blanc de Tacul, Aiguille de Midi, and other nearby peaks in only one day. Furthermore, the construction of the Cosmiques Refuge has allowed people to stay for multiple days at high altitude without having to carry extensive gear.

The accessibility of this region has made it much more popular than similarly high altitude regions in the alps. For some this is a boon as the routes are likely to be better equipped than other routes high in the alps. Also, there are likely to be many parties attempting the same routes and sometimes it is necessary to start unreasonably early if you want to be the first one on a climb.

Getting There

The main way most people reach Aiguille de Midi is via the Aiguille de Midi telepherique.

It's simple enough, drive (or take a train) to Chamonix. Park. Walk to the lift. Hand over ~45 eur. Ride to the top.

It is also possible to climb up to the summit from the North face via one of the snow, ice, and rock couloirs but this is an extremely serious undertaking even though the technical difficulty may not be so high. A high level of skill, speed, and experience are necessary to do these routes safely and successfully.

The Voie Rébuffat-Baquet is a truly beautiful line in a fantastic setting. The route is rather well equipped for a trad route there are oftentimes pitons in the most difficult sections and most of the belays are equipped for rappel. With the proximity of both the Aiguille de Midi telepherique and the Cosmiques refuge, it has become possible to do this...[more]Browse More Classics in International